... BIHAR India Sept. 9 -- Entire villages h...On August 18th a flash flood resulting from a broken embankment on th...Coordinating with the government rescue and relief machinery the10-m... The footprint of the flood is huge and we have been concentrating onl...

BIHAR, India, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Entire villages have
been washed away in India's northern state of Bihar after a deadly
combination of monsoon rains and a dam burst caused a deluge that spreads
over countless miles of farming land. IFAW (International Fund for Animal
Welfare -- http://www.ifaw.org) deployed an Emergency Relief team to the impacted
area and has since treated and fed over 6000 starving livestock that
escaped the fury of the catastrophic floods.

On August 18th, a flash flood resulting from a broken embankment on the
river Kosi in neighbouring Nepal swept away thousands of human beings and
animals with many villages wiped off the face of the earth. Millions of
people and cattle are staying in makeshift camps made out of plastic sheets
and bamboo. The army and para-military forces have also put up tented
camps.

Coordinating with the government rescue and relief machinery, the
10-member team, which includes veterinarians and animal care staff, has
been making daily forays inside the flood hit areas by boat and by four
wheel drives wherever possible.

"The footprint of the flood is huge and we have been concentrating only
in a small but very badly affected area in the Araria and Supaul district,"
said Dr. Anjan Talukdar, IFAW team veterinarian. The team is also being
helped by volunteers from IFAW's Emergency Relief Network in India.

Although the water is slowly receding and has drained out of several
villages in the two districts, the people are unable to return home. Locals
estimate the number of cattle in the area to be about 24,000. Many more are
still marooned in the interiors with no food for three weeks now. As the
water level recedes, the rotting carcasses of many animals that are not
being saved from the floods could pose a threat of spreading diseases. The
ER team is travelling to marooned areas to help animals as well as
educating animal owners on precautions to prevent worm infestations and
disease outbreaks.

Northern Bihar consisting of Supaul, Madhepura, Araria, Purnea,
Kishangaj districts bordering Nepal and Bangladesh is agricultural country,
rich with cattle considered maal or wealth. "People value their livestock
here and won't just let it go. Those who left animals behind were forced
to. They are as dear to them as their children" Ajatshatru Singh, a local
leader said.

Pradyut Jha was one such farmer who stayed back at the Chainpur village
with his cattle. The village looked like a tidal surge had gone through it.
Whole trees had been uprooted. All the bamboo and mud huts had collapsed.
The brick and mud houses were damp and dripping. Water was flowing through
parts of the village. As the boats came close to the village, the IFAW team
waded through waist deep water to get to get inside. Snakes swam away as
they waded forward. The team found 10 cows and three goats on a platform
with one recently dead cow amidst them. The animals were listless, mouthing
some dry straw and looked very weak.

The team immediately got to work mixing vitamins and nutritional
supplements with the straw. "If animals don't get food for a long time they
start losing interest in food and don't have the strength to eat. This is
thus a vicious cycle which makes them weaker and therefore prone to
infections and a slow death. So we need to first break this cycle by making
them interested in food and once they have the strength to eat they will
slowly regain their stamina," Dr Talukdar said. The cows seemed to respond
to the taste and had started eating a little more purposefully.

"It is actually providential that the water continues to flow and is
not stagnating, because stagnant water is the root cause of all infections
and disease. I think we are looking at a long haul here. I don't see this
situation stabilising for at least four months. Certain areas which have
been completely devastated might take even longer," said Chandan Singh
Executive Director for humanitarian NGO, GreenPower India, who has been
active in the human relief effort and also has two veterinarians working
with him.

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)

Founded in 1969, IFAW works around the globe to protect animals and
habitats promoting practical solutions for animals and people. To learn how
you can help, please visit http://www.ifaw.org.

About WTI (Wildlife Trust of India)

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), is a non-profit conservation
organisation, committed to urgent action that prevents destruction of
India's wildlife. Formed in November 1998, WTI was created in response to
the rapidly deteriorating condition of wildlife in India.

IFAW and WTI formed a partnership in 2000 to strengthen the cause of
wildlife conservation and animal welfare in India. Through this
collaboration, IFAW and WTI are developing strategies to find solutions to
wildlife threats in India and the surrounding region.

(Date:9/26/2017)... , ... September 26, 2017 , ... ... that is not only entirely new and different, it is scientifically proven as ... that the company has received an exclusive license agreement with BioTherapeutics Inc. for ...

(Date:9/26/2017)... ... ... Founded as an independent institute in 1968, The Glenholme School devoted ... 2018, Glenholme will celebrate its first 50 years and set a course for the ... ponies, was generously donated by Jean White Van Sinderen to Devereux in 1968. The ...

(Date:9/26/2017)... ... September 26, 2017 , ... “Childhood Memories of a Virginia ... readers back, and help them relive their own youth. “Childhood Memories of a Virginia ... in the US Navy for nine years. He received his BS from Idaho ...

(Date:9/6/2017)... SAN ANTONIO , Sept. 6, 2017 Robert ... as a Pinnacle Professional Member in recognition of his ... Dr. Szewc serves as a Nephrologist at the practice ... services, emergency medicine, kidney care and hypertension solutions. He ... over 20 years of career experience, as well as ...